PANJIM: Minister for AYUSH and Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik is exploring the possibilities of setting up an Army Boys Sports Company in Goa.
Naik who summoned Roque Dias, Executive Director, Sports Authority of India in his chamber in Panjim on Tuesday for a discussion disclosed that there are 26 Army Boys Sports Companies across the country which are funded by SAI under the joint venture between Sports Authority of India and the Indian Army.
Goa being a state popular for its football and boxing, it is evident by the fact that the State has produced many National and International Sportsperson.
Strangely however, there are no Army Boys Sports Company despite Goa having a couple of Army Training Centers, where facilities are available for football and boxing.
Goa has an Army Training Centre, Bambolim which has all requisite facilities.
Sources said that Naik expressed his desire to have a synthetic football surface to be laid at Bambolim, so that sportsmen could avail of the facilities year-round, irrespective of the season.
The minister also strongly insisted that the training centre commence operations immediately, so that at least 50 talented players in Football and 20 in boxing are admitted at Army Training Centre, Bambolim.
“Being a sportsperson said it will be a good opportunity to the talented sportsperson to get employed in the army as well as for intensive in-house training so as to strive hard to get medal in 2028 Olympics,” said Shripad Naik while disclosing the idea put forth.
Lenny Gama, International Technical Boxing official (IBA) said, “If the boxers are in-house trained at the Army, Goa, we will get many International Boxing champions.”
Ex Chief Minister, MP and President of Goa Football Association Churchill Alemao seconded the thought. “This will be a big boost for promoting football in Goa in particular and India in general,” Churchill added.
Keeping with Prime Minister’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” program, a proposal of setting up an Army Girls Sports Company will be launched as a pilot project during the current financial year.
